Signal lamp



G. B. MCBEAN SIGNAL LAMP @i l M March 1o, 192s. l 1,529,443.-

Ru' v Wl willullnvArI/lllllllnvllll Ill/11111111111111111111 Patented Mar. 10, 1,925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OI'TFFI*CE1,`

GEORGE B. IICBEAII, or HIGHLAND Panik, ILLInoIsgAssIGNoR 'ro- MECHANICAL &

ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORICRA- TION OF ILLINOIS;

SIGNAL LAMP.

Application fneaaanuary 29, 1917. seriai No. 145,217.

To @ZZ whom t mai/'concern' Be it known that I, GEORGE B. MCBEAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Highland Park, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Signal Lamp, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal lamps and relates particularly to signal lamps for indicating thedirectionv of travel of a vehicle, particularly for signalling a contemplated change in the direction of travel of such vehicle.

The object of the invention is to provide a signal lamp for the purpose specified which shall be simple. in construction, relatively cheap to manufacture, and effective for its designed purpose. To this end, a signal lamp ofmy invention comprises the various features, combinations of features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,- in which n invention is fully'illustrated,

Figure l is a sectional side view of my improved signal lamp and operating mechanism therefor. the section being taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of my improved signal lamp and operating mechanism therefor, showing the operating mechanism in plan section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Figure 3 is a view of the operating mechanism from the position 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figures 4I, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are different views, on a reduced scale, from the position 4:--4

of Fig. 2, Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8 showing dif-- ferent shutters in closed position to display different signals, and Fig. 6 showing al1 of said shutters open.

Figure 9 is a front. view of a signal lamp embodying my invention in modified form.

Figure l() is a sectional side view thereof,V

Fig 1l is a sectional elevation thereof on.

the line 11-11 of Fig. l0.

Figure l2 is a side view of a signal lamp' embodying. another modification of my invention.

Figure l3`is a front viewthereof: and/ Figure 14l is a sectional endvi'ew thereof on the line' lil-14 o'f Figi 12.

As" shown` in the drawings, the lamp, 'designatediff, forming part of in v improved sierrallinQ apparatus, is assumed to be the usual' tail lamp of an automobile or other vehicle. As shown. said'v lampis indicated as being an electricl`amp,but my iiivention' contemplates equally theuse ofanA oil lamp.

Said larr'ip A.ma'v beY any usual formy ofcominereial signal 'lamp commonly usedl on motor vehicles of'va'rious'ltinds at the pres` ent time and is' adapted to be mounted on the vehicle in any usual and` wellv known manner.` Also, the electrical'y connections for said lamp whereby said llamp may he controlled b v theV driver'of the car canv be readily supplied by any electrician of ordinary skill without any description thereof, and such connections are not,tliereof, shown in the drawings.

To effect the objects of the invention as it relates to signalling the contemplated direction of travel, the light opening a of said lamp iscontrolled by means of different shutters made of suitable opaque material, preferably thin sheet metal, formed in which, respectively, are openings shaped to form pointers-preferably arrows-indicating different directions.

lVliile my invention contemplatesthe use of any desired or approved form of shutters` I prefer the form of shutter used very largely on photographic cameras and generally known as diaphragm shutters.y Shutters of this tvpe are oldand'wellknown and can readily be constructed and supplied by persons familiar with camera construction without a description in detail thereof; Said shutters'` which are separately shown in closed positions inrFigs. 4, 5, 7. and 8 are designated, respectively, 1 2, 3 and 4, and theA pointers or 'arrows formed in said shutters, respectively, l', 2, 3 and 4.

' Said shutters" are operatively mounted in a casing B supported in front of the light opening-fa offtlieflam'p A, providedl in its front and baclt walls with openings kfor the passageA of the: light from"1 the lamp A', glass plates 5- and 6' being lsecurediin said ope'n` ings, respectively. In the case of the tail lamp of a motor vehicle, one of said plates, preferably the inner plate 5, is red, while the outer plate 6 is preferably clear and is designed primarily to protect said shutters and the actuating mechanism therefor mounted in the casing B and to prevent access of dust, dirt and the like thereto.

As shown, said shutter casing B is supported at the outer end of an extension Zi of thetubular projection a which defines the light opening o of the lamp A. Also, to provide for the use of arrows of such size that they may be readily and clearly seen at such distance as will render them effec-tive, said shutter casing and shutters are made relatively large, the sides of said extension Z) of the lamp casing being correspondingly flared so that the outer end thereof to which said casing B is attached shall be larger than the light openings 5- and 6 through said shutter casing.

In accordance with my invention, I contemplate operating' the shutters l, 2, 3 and l either mechanically, pneuniatically or in any other desired or approved manner, said shutter mechanism being so constructed and arranged that said shutters will be normally open so that they will not obstruct the light from the lamp A and are adapted to be closed separately when it is desired to display the signals deiined thereby, respectively. Shutters yof this type. adapted to be operated in the manner specified are old and well known in shutter construction for cameras and can readily be constructed and supplied by persons familiar therewith without a detailed description thereof.

As indicated in tlie drawings, said shutters are adapted to be operated mechanically by means of usual trip levers 7, 8, 9 and 10 constructed and arranged to separately close i the shutters l, 2, 3 andl, respectively.

Pivotal movement to close the shutters is adapted tobe imparted to the trip levers 7. 8, 9 and 10 by suitable operating means mounted on the. car--as on the steering postor dash-'in position to be conveniently accessible to the driver of the car.

As shown, the parts of said operating mechanism are mounted on a suitable frame' work, consisting of a casing l1, one end of which is closed by a removable cover plate 12 to provide access to the interior thereof and the parts enclosed thereby, and coniand, in the vopposite direction, will permit said trip levers to be returned to their normal positions corresponding to open positions of said shutters. As shown, the arms 72 82, 92 and l02 of said bell crank levers are connected to the shutter trip levers 7, 8, 9 and l0 by flexible wires or the like designated 73, 83, 95'and 103, respectively, which, `as shown, pass around idle pulleys le and l5 rotatably mounted in suitable position onthe frame of the vehicle, preferably in such position that the end sections of said connecting cables will extend Vsubstantially vertically from their points of attachment to said tripv levers and bell crank levers.

Pivotal movement is adapted to be im parted to the bell cranlrlevers 7, S, 9 and 10', respectively, by means of rods or plungers 7*, 84, 94 and l04 mounted so as to be freely movable eiidwise in suitable. bearings formed in the casing l1. As shown, the bearings for said rods or plungers are formed in theibottom wall 1G of a recess '17 formed in the removable front wall' l2 of the easing ll, and in a plate l8 secured in the open side of said recess.

The inner ends of said plungers 74, 8, 9'L and l0Jl are slotted to receive the arms 475, 85. 95 and 105 of the bell-crank levers and said plungers and bell-crank levers arc connected by pins 19 on said plungers which extend through slots 20 fornicd'in the arms 75, 85, 95 and l05 of said bell-crank levers. the relation being such that endwise movement of said rods or plungers in opposite direction will ini-part desired pivotal movement to said bell-crank levers to open and close the shutters l, 2, 3 and Ll.

Said plungers are adapted to be main-r tained at the inner limit of their movement` corresponding to open position of the shutters l, 2, 3 and 4;, by means of springs applied thereto consisting, as shown, of coiled springs 2l inserted between the bearing plate. 1S and lateral projections on said rods or plunger-s and which surround said rods or plungers as guides. As shown. said projections 22 consist of pins secured in said rods or plungers and which project laterally therefrom.

Necessary pivotal movement to release the shutters 1,2, 3 and 4 is adapted to be im parted to the trip levers 7, 8, 9 and l0 by pivotal movement of the bell-crank levers 7, 8, 9, and l0 produced by pulling out the plungers 74, 8", 94, and l04 against the force of the springs 2l. applied thereto, and said plungers and associated parts are adapted to Lbe secured or locked in suc-h retracted position by means of a suitable detent or detents ,applied thereto. As shown, said detent consists of a transverse bar S23 supported at the upper ends of arms Qfl pivoted on a transverse red 25 the ends of which are secured Y in bearings in the side walls of the casing l1.

ment of said d'etent` with said shoulders 25.

The d'etent is returned to locking position by means of springs 28 `applied to the lower ends of the arms 2.4:, andthe locking position ot said detent is .defined l by means ot a stop pin- 29 which projects into the path of travel ot one of the arms 2&1-,

In the preferable yconstruction shown, also,all of `Said rods or plungers, when locked in retractedy or :pulled .out positions byv the detent,23are adapted to be released and returned to normal positions byrthe springs 21 applied thereto, thereby opening the shutter controlled by said retracted or pulled out plunger or plungers, by theretracting or pulling out of any of said rods vor plungers to close the shutter controlled thereby. This .is effected employing a common detent or detents for all of said rods or plungers whereby, as said detent is moved pivotally by the retraction of any of said rods or plungersto effect engagement of said detent with the shoulder on said rod or plunger thus pulled out, the pivotal moveinentthus impartedto said detent will effect disengagement thereof with the shoulder 26 on any rod or plunger held in retracted or vpulled out position thereby` thus permitting said retracted or *A pulled out plunger or plungers to be returned to normal position by the springs 21.

In addition to the plungers 74, 8, 94 and 104 for controlling and operating the shutter trip levers 7, 8, 9 and 10, I provide an additional rod or plunger designated 31. which is designed merely for releasing the other rods Or-plungers which control the shutter trip levers so as to open all of the shutters, when the vehicle is running straight ahead, and 'fully expose the tail or other lamp. To this end, said rod or plunger 31 has no connection with any of the shutter trip levers 7, S. 9 and 10, but has on its under side a projection provided with a shoulder substantially similar to the projectionA 27 Yand the shoulders .26 Yformed on the other rods or plungers. Thus, as said yrod vor` plunger 31 is retracted or pulled out, any 'ot `the rods or :plungers 74, 84, Qtand 104t which may be securedv in retracted or pulled yout position will vbe released andreturned to, normal position bythesprings 21, Whichwillopen all of lthe'shutters.

To adaptn my improved .signal llamp for use both. at ,night andl in the; daytime,0 .the exposedl sidestof the'shutters ,will bev colored to contrast with the' light. "'"Thus, in' the vcase 4up and the wordFAcheacW;

of a 'air lamp, wiaCh .iS-rea,f theweappsa sides of theshutters' are colored-'whitegryvliile in the case of head lights, which areL white,

the exposed sides ofsaidshutters'wvillfbe colored black.

In use, Vwhen the vehicle is 'running straight ahead` all of the shutters will be open andthe lightopening of the lamp un obstructed, asy shown in Figj, thus 'fully exposing the Vlight therefrom. Vhen-the driver contemplates. turning to Athe right,v he Ypulls out or retracts the rod'or plunger7,

thereby closing the'sh'utter 1y` and display- 'ing 'the arrow 1 formed therein, which *points to the right and indicates to -others that he contemplatesV turning toft'he'right.

yWheny the` driver" contemplates turningr to ahead when he starts, he pulls out'sthe'rod or plunger 9"c which closes the shutter and .displays the arrow 3 formed therein',which points upwards and, by acceptedconvention.y indicates that he intendsl going ahead.'

And Awhen he contemplates backing up, he pulls out the rod or plunger 104, Whichwill close the shutter L1 and display the'arrowt, which points downward and, vbyxaccepted convention, indicates that Vhe Yintends to back up.

Also, when the Vdriverv contemplateswdriving Iahead 'for any considerable distance without turning, he pulls out .the rodV or plunger 31, which,.as previously explained, will open any closed shutter and eXpose'the full light opening o'tsaid lamp.

1 Asexplained, also, when any'rod or plunger is pulled any other rod or plunger which may be' locked in pulled outposition,.will be released and will permit the shutter controlled thereby to open, .thus effectually preventing obscuring and confusion of the different signals.

lFor convenience, the rods 'or plungers which control different shutters or perform different functions are preferably appropriately marked. Thus, on the outer end of the plunger 7"an arrow pointing down and the word Back will appear; on the end of the rod or plunger 84 an arrow pointing on v the plunger 94 an arrow pointingtotheleft and'the word Left; on the plunger 101 an arrow pointing to the rightfand the word Right; and on the plunger 81S, rthel word Neutral.

"Instead 'of the particular form of Ashutter specified, ymy invention contemplates ltheiruse of other forms ofsh'utters. l"For example, I contemplate .the use/'of 'shutters eachv consisting of a.- pflate of, suitable'materiaLjpreerably sheet metal', pivotallyiiountefda't dit# "ferent sides of the light opening of the lamp .casing in such position that pivotal movement thereof in different directions will respectively obscure and expose the lamp proper.

This modification is shown in Figs. 9 to 11 of the drawings, in which A designates the lamp proper, a3 the light opening vdefined by a tubular extension ZJ of the lamp casing, said extension preferably comprising a flared portion b2 and an outer rectangular portion b3.V Pivoted to different sides of the rectangular portion b3 of said extension are shutters 12, 22, 32 and 42, formed in which, respectively, are holes or openings which define pointers indicating diHerent directions, preferably in the form of arrows, designated, respectively, 13, 23, 33 and 43. Said shutters are maintained normally open by means of springs applied thereto, as coiled springs 32 applied to the pivots thereof and are adapted to be closed, when desired, to obscure the lamp A by suitable means mounted in position to be conveniently accessible to the driver of the vehicle and which preferably comprise means for securing said shutters in closed positions and for releasing them to permit them to open, said releasing means preferably comprising means controlled by operation of the mechanism for closing any open shutter and also separate means common to all of said shutters, whereby in running straight ahead, any closed shutter may be released so as to permit the same to open and thus fully expose the lamp. F or operating said shutters, the operating means shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and heretofore described, may be used without change, by attaching the cords or wires 73, 83, 93l and 103 to lever arms 33,34,35 and 36 secured to the pivot pins of said shutters, respectively, the relation being such that said shutters will be closed by pulling out the plungers applied thereto, respectively, and any closed shutter may be released and permitted to open by pulling out the plunger for closing any open shutter and also by pulling out the neutral plunger 31. p

A glass plate 37 is preferably secured in the extension o of the lamp casing, which may be red or clear depending upon the purpose for which it is intended. As shown, said plate is secured in said extension b outside of said shutters soas to exclude dust, dirt and the like therefrom.

Instead vof forming the different pointers on separate shutters, I contemplate, as a further modification of my invention, a construction in which all of said pointers are formed in a single shutter.

This modification is shown in Figs. l2 to 14 of the drawings, in which A2 designates the lamp. proper, a3 the light opening in the lamp casingdefined'by a tubular extension b* of ,said lamp casing. Slidably mounted in suitable transverseV guides so as to be freely movable endwise therein in both directions, is a shutter 38, preferably madeV of sheet steel or other suitable metal, formed in which are holes or openings 14, 24, 33 and Y mally at one limit of its movement,

which preferably corresponds to register of the opening 14 therein with the light opening a3. Y

Movement against the forceof said spring to bring the different openings 23, 34, 4I3 and the light opening 39 into register with said light opening c3, is adapted to be imparted to said shutter against the force of the spring 40 applied thereto, by VVa leverc41 mounted on the dash or onl the steering post of the vehicle, not shown, so as to be conveniently accessible to the driver of the vehicle, which is connected by avcord or wire 42 with the end of the shutter 38 other than th'at to which the spring 40 is connected. The positions of the lever 41 to bring the different pointers or arrows defined by the openings 14, 24, 3i and 44 in register with the light opening ofthe lamp is defined by suitable stops, Consisting of a spring pressed Abolt 43 mounted on the lever 41 which is adapted to engage notches 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 in a segment 49, said notches and the end of said bolt being V-shaped, thus forming a spring catch which will engage automatically and may bedisenga-ged b'y a push or pull on said lever. Y

The notches' 44, 45, 46, 47 and 4 8 may be appropriately marked, as with the letters N., iR., L., A. and B., respectively, being the first letters ofthe words neutral, right, left, ahead and back, and the relation being such that when in engagement with said notches, respectively, the arrows or pointers indicating the directions of travel indicated by the letters applied thereto will loe displayed.

The signal lamp last described differs from the other two in the respect that it is not automatic and when a signal is once displayed it will remain so until the lever is again moved into a different position. F or this'reason, I consider this form of signal lamp less desirable than the other two, although it is in all respects practical,

maalt/ta.

l claim l. Signaling apparatus for veh1cleslcomprising a plurality of signals for indicating different directions of travel, means for dis# playing said signals separately and means for obscuring any displayed signal rendered operative by actuation `ofthe means Jfor displaying any obscured signal and constructed and arranged for maintaining said signal obscured until the means for displaying same is again operated.

2. Signalling apparatus for vehicles comprising a plurality of signals for indicating different directions of travel, means for displaying said signals separately, means for obscuring any displayed signal rendered operative by actuation of the means for displaying any obscured signal, and separate means common to all of said signal obscuring means for rendering the same operative.

3, A signal lamp comprising a casing, a plurality of diaphragm shutters mounted therein in iiXed axial alignment so as to deline a single light opening controlled by said shutters and designed to be normally unobstructed, said shutters, respectively, being provided with means for indicating different directions of travel, and means for operating said shutters to display and obscure said indicating means.

l. A signal lamp comprising a casing provided with a light opening, a plurality of shutters for covering and uncovering said light opening, said shutters being provided with means indicating diierent directions, means for closing said shutters separately, and means for opening any closed shutter rendered operative by actuation of the means for closing any open shutter.

5. A signal lamp comprising a casing provided With a light opening, a plurality of shutters for covering and uncovering said light opening, said shutters being provided vvith means indicating different directions, means for closing said shutters separately, means for opening any closed shutter rendered operative by actuation of the means for closing any open shutter, and separate means common to all of said shutter opening means for rendering the same operative.

6. A signal lamp comprising a casing provided With a light opening, a plurality of shutters for covering and uncovering said light opening, said shutters being provided With means indicating different directions, means for maintaining said shutters normally open, means for closing said shutters separately and for securing them in closed position, constructed and arranged for simultaneously releasing any closed shutter.

7; A signal lamp comprising a casing provided with' a light opening,l a 4'plurality. of shutters ifor covering and uncovering: said light opening, said shutters beingwpro-l vided With means indicating different r,direc-- tions, means for maintaining said shutters normally open7 means for closing said'shutters se aratelTv and for securina them-in.A

Ving adapted for covering and uncovering said light opening, said shutters being provided with openings which deiine pointers indicating dilierent directions, means for closing said shutters separately, and means for opening said shutters controlled by the means for closing any open shutter.

9. A signal lamp comprising a lamp proper of the bulls-eye type provided With a light opening, the casing of said lamp comprising an extension Which surrounds said light opening, a plurality of shutters mounted in the extension of said lamp casing adapted for covering and uncovering said light opening, said shutters being pro vided With openings Which define pointers indicating different directions, means for closing said shutters separately, means for opening said shutters rendered operative by actuation of the means for closing any open shutter and separate means common to all of said shutter opening means for renden ing said shutter opening means operative.

l0. A signal lamp comprising a. lamp proper of the bulls-eye type provided with a light opening, the casing of said lamp comprising an extension Which surrounds said light opening, a plurality of shutters mounted in the extension of said lamp casing adapted for covering and uncovering said light opening, said shutters being provided vvith openings which deiine pointers indicating diflerent directions, means for maintaining said shutters normally open, means for closing said shutters separately and for securing them in closed position, constructed and arranged for simultaneous ly releasing any closed shutter,

11. A signal lamp comprising a lamp proper of the bullsfeye type provided with a light opening, the casing of said lamp comprising an extension which surrounds said light opening, a plurality of shutters mounted in the extension of said lamp cas? ing adapted for covering and uncovering said light opening said shutters being provided With openings Which define pointers indicating different directions, means for opening means for releasing any closed maintaining said shutters normally open, shutter. means for closing said shutters separately In testimony, that I claim the oregoing'l0 and for securing them in Closed position, as my invention, I aHiX my signature tlnis lconstructed and arranged for simultaneous 11th Clay of January A. D. 1917.

ly releasing any closed shutter, and separate means common to all of said shutter GEORGE B. MCBEAN. 

